Tuesday, November 4, is Election Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Registered voters should go to their regular polling place on Tuesday; polls are open from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. New this year is a requirement that every voter must show a photo ID at the precinct. Acceptable photo IDs include a Virginia driver’s license or DMV-issued ID, an employee ID, U.S passport, Virginia higher education institution student ID, or Virginia public high school ID. All forms of ID must include a current photo and not be expired for more than 12 months.

Registered voters in Fairfax County may vote absentee in person at several satellite sites, including the Mason District Governmental Center at 6507 Columbia Pike in Annandale, today and tomorrow from 3:30 – 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. You will need to present your photo ID, as described above, when voting absentee in person, too.

This year is a federal election year, with a relatively short ballot. Voters will be asked to elect members to the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as a proposed amendment to Virginia’s constitution, and a county transportation bond question. Heading the ticket is the race for United States Senate. Democratic incumbent Mark Warner is seeking re-election to a second term. His leadership and initiative, working in a bipartisan manner just as he did when serving as Virginia’s Governor, is sorely needed in a deeply divided Congress. Mark’s commonsense approach to Virginia’s issues deserves our vote for his re-election.

Northern Virginia is represented by three congressional districts, the 8th, 10th, and 11th. Mason District is shared by two congressional districts, the 8th and 11th. In the 8th District, former Ambassador and Virginia Lt. Governor Don Beyer is seeking to succeed retiring Congressman Jim Moran. Don is a well-known businessman who brings a keen understanding of Virginia’s needs and a well-honed environmental record to continue the constituent work established by Jim for more than two decades. In the 11th District, Gerry Connolly is running for a fourth term. Gerry clearly loves his job; his understanding of local needs was developed during his long tenure as Providence District Supervisor and then Chairman. Gerry fights for federal employees and retirees in his district, especially, and is known for his clear vision and brilliant mind. Don and Gerry will be a great team for Mason District in the coming term.

Two other races in the region are generating a lot of interest. In the 10th Congressional District, Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust is running to succeed retiring Congressman Frank Wolf. John supports women making health decisions for themselves, and will work in a bipartisan manner, as he does on the Board of Supervisors, on issues affecting Northern Virginia in the Congress. In Arlington, Democrat Alan Howze is running for the Arlington County Council. Alan supports the Columbia Pike Streetcar, a joint partnership between Arlington and Fairfax Counties for more than a decade. The streetcar will improve transit options along the corridor, and will be an economic boon to revitalization in the Bailey’s Crossroads/Skyline area.

Exercise your civic responsibility. Vote!

 Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.